"Severus."
The whisper jolted him to awareness. He shook his head to clear the cobwebs. Dread caused his stomach to clench. He shouldn't have slept. He should have gone straight to the Headmaster.
"I want to see Harry."
To late for that now. He would have to take his chances. He rose obediently and led Hermione through the side entrance and off the grounds. They apparated to the hideout.
Hermione commanded him to enter the room before her.
He did so reluctantly. He was unsurprised when the door slammed shut behind him and he heard the lock sliding into place.
Harry heard voices outside the prison door. Hermione's voice was cold and cruel completely foreign to the image he held of Hermione in his mind. His Hermione was warm and caring. She loved them, true she was in love with Severus but she loved her best friends with a fierce loyalty. She would never resort to kidnapping and unforgivables. It didn't make any sense. He had Ron had tried to sort it out after Severus left, but it had proved impossible. The only explanation they had was that the girl they knew was no more and it brought no comfort.
Hermione slid the dead lock into place and reset the wards, stronger this time. Severus would be furious when he found that she'd nicked his wand while he was fast asleep. She hoped the anger would cloud the astute man's judgment long enough for her to fetch Lucius. He was integral to the remainder of her plans. She walked outside the anti-apparation shield she had erected and dissapparated with a pop.
Malfoy Manor was an imposing structure but Hermione took no real notice as she hurried to find Lucius. He was expecting her and he was not a patient man.
"Where have you been? I've been waiting for you." Lucius' silky voice sent shivers down Hermione's spine.
"We have a problem."
The tall blonde turned and met her nervous cinnamon eyes with his own slightly frantic silver ones. "What kind of problem?"
"He knows. Severus knows. He was never under the Imperious he faked it." She paced the room, gesticulating wildly.
"How could you have been so reckless?" he snarled, grasping her firmly by both wrists and flinging her onto the floor.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed.
He sighed irritably and snapped. "Well then you'll have to fix it won't you?"